Cristin Milioti

Joan Marcus

As part of the audition for the role of the Czech émigré who restores the artistic fire in a heartbroken Irish busker in the musical "Once," Milioti was given a couple of weeks to learn to play a classical piano piece. She threw herself into the task with discipline and rigor and won the role of "the Girl." For her efforts, she has earned enthusiastic reviews and a Tony nomination for lead actress in a musical. Milioti has yet to see the film with Markéta Irglová and Glen Hansard on which the musical is based, but she captures its pathos and romanticism.

As part of the audition for the role of the Czech émigré who restores the artistic fire in a heartbroken Irish busker in the musical "Once," Milioti was given a couple of weeks to learn to play a classical piano piece. She threw herself into the task with discipline and rigor and won the role of "the Girl." For her efforts, she has earned enthusiastic reviews and a Tony nomination for lead actress in a musical. Milioti has yet to see the film with Markéta Irglová and Glen Hansard on which the musical is based, but she captures its pathos and romanticism. (Joan Marcus)

As part of the audition for the role of the Czech émigré who restores the artistic fire in a heartbroken Irish busker in the musical "Once," Milioti was given a couple of weeks to learn to play a classical piano piece. She threw herself into the task with discipline and rigor and won the role of "the Girl." For her efforts, she has earned enthusiastic reviews and a Tony nomination for lead actress in a musical. Milioti has yet to see the film with Markéta Irglová and Glen Hansard on which the musical is based, but she captures its pathos and romanticism.